Brake-operating mechanism for vehicles.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

J. L. PEAGOGK. BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1904.

Uwrrpn STATES Patented May 2, 1905;

ATENT rrrce.

BRAKE-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,051, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed July 28,1904. Serial No. 218,586.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. PEACOOK, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brake-Operating Mechanism for Vehicles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in brake-operating mechanisms for vehicles, and refers more particularly to that class in which the brake-operating chain is wound upon a spiral drum operated by the brake-post and having a spiral chainway of greater diameter at one end than at its opposite end.

My object is to set the brakes under a gradually-increasing leverage, so that the initial take-up of the slack is rapid, while the final setting of the brakes is somewhat slower, but is accomplished with an increased force.

Another object is to set the brakes with a minimum movement of the brake-handle that is, to take up the slack and apply the brakes with a gradually-increasing force and with less than afull revolution of the brake post or spindle.

A further object is to provide the drum with an integral internal gear to mesh with a pinion on the lower end of the brake-post.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side elevation and top plan of the essential elements of my improved brake-operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is an inverted end view of the detached drum and a portion of the brake-operating chain connected thereto. Fig. 4 is a top plan of said drum, showing the internal gear and pinion of the brake-post meshing therewith. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

This invention comprises, essentially, a

frame 1, a rotary drum 2, a chain or cable 3,

and a brake post or spindle 4, having a pinion 5, which meshes with an internal gear 6 on the upper end of the drum 2.

The frame 1 is adapted to be secured to the under side of a car, as the under side of a platform, and consists of a top plate or cap 7 having radial projecting ears 8 and a forked bracket 9. The plate or cap 7 has an annular recess in its lower face for receiving the upper end of the drum 2, as best seen in Fig. 5, and is also provided with a central opening 10 and an additional opening 11 at one side of the central opening 10. This cap is disposed in a horizontal position, and the bracket 9 has the ends of its arms secured to two of the bosses or ears 8 at one side of the drum 2, while the lower end of the bracket 9 is disposed horizontally beneath the drum 2 and is also provided with an aperture 12 in vertical alinement with the aperture 10. These apertures 10 and 12 receive a bolt or spindle 13, upon which the drum 2 is rotatingly mounted between the lower end of the bracket 9 and upper plate or cap 7, suitable antifriction-roll-v ers 14 being interposed between the inner wall of the drum and spindle 13. The drum 2 is therefore disposed in an upright position, and its upper end is considerably larger than its lower end, being preferably circular and rotatingly fitted in the recess in the cap 7 and is itself provided with a recess in its top face surrounded by the internal gear 6, said recess also receiving the pinion 5 of the bracketpost 4. It now appears that the cap 7 not only covers the internal gear 6, but also incloses the pinion 5, and the opening 11 forms a'suitable bearing for the lower end of the bracket-post 4.

The periphery of the drum 2 tapers gradually from top to bottom and is provided with a spiral rib 16, which divides the surface of the drum into upper and lower chainways l7 and 18, the diameter of the upper chainway being larger than that of the lower part 18. One end of the chain 3 is attached to the periphery of the enlarged part 17 and winds upon the periphery of the drum from the top downwardly, so that the initial winding movement of the drum, by means of a brake-post, causes a rapid take-up of the slack in the chain or brake mechanism. This of course requires more power; but the load is light, and therefore the action is comparatively easy in taking up the slack; but as the chain continues to wind it draws nearer to the axis as the brake is being set, and therefore a less power upon the brake-handle is required to set the brakes than would be required if the diameter remain the same from top to bottom of the drum.

The pinion 5 is secured to the lower end of the brake-post 4 and meshes with the internal gear 6, and it is therefore evident that the drum will be rotated in the same direction as the brake-post.

The cap 7 entirely conceals the gears and prevents the accumulation of dust or other foreign matter which might interfere with the operation of the gears, and owing to the fact that the bracket 9 is separable from the cap it is evident that by removing the nut on the lower end of the spindle 13 and also removing the nuts which clamp the bracket to the ears 8 said bracket, together with the drum, may be readily removed downwardly, leaving the pinion and cap 7 with the brakepost.

In the operation of my invention to set the brakes the drum 2 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow X, and thereby winds the cable or chain from the upper part, of greatest diameter, to the lower part, of least diameter, thus supporting a rapid action in taking up the slack and then applying the brakes with increased force and correspondingly-reduced power. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a brake-operating mechanism, the combination of an upright supporting-spindle, a drum journaled onv said spindle and having a spiral chainway of greater diameter at the top than at the bottom, said drum having an integral internal gear on its upper end, a brake-post having a pinion meshing with said internal gear, a dust-cap covering said internal gear and pinion and provided with a journal-opening, for the brake-post, and apassage therethrough for the passage of said spindle, and a chain attached to the upper end of the periphery of the drum.

2. A brake-operating mechanism comprising a frame having separable upper and lower bearings, a spindle passing through said upper and lower bearings and fixed therein, a drum ournaled on said spindle and having a spiral chainway of greater diametenat its upper end than at its lower end, said drum having an internal gear on its'upper end, but below the upper bearing, antifriction-rollers arranged in said drum and surrounding said spindle, a brake-post journaled in the upper bearing and provided with a pinion meshing with said internal gear, and a chain having one end secured to the portion of the periphery of the drum having a greater diameter.

3. A brake-operating mechanism comprising a frame composed of a cap having laterally-extending lugs, a forked bracket, a spindle passing through said cap and said bracket and secured therein, a drum journaled on said spindle and having atapered spiral chainway and an internal gear, a brake-post passing through said cap and a pinion attached to said brake-post and meshing with the internal gear of said drum.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of May, 1904.

JOHN L. PEACOCK.

Witnesses: HUGH J. MCDONALD, GRIFFIN S. AOKLEY. 

